Saints of the Reformation

by Edward G. Kettner
October 31, 2017 will mark the 500th anniversary of what is considered the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. On that date Martin Luther nailed 95 theses for debate concerning the issue of indulgences onto the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. The printing and distribution of these theses created a firestorm which led to the reformation of the church, not only in external corruption, but in the heart and core of the Gospel: the biblical truth that we are justified (declared righteous) before God not …

by Peggy Pedersen
“I will cling to Christ as a burr clings to a coat!” With these words, Katie Luther gave up her breath to the Lord.
On January 29, 1499, she had been born to an aristocratic family of diminished means and given the name Katharina von Bora. Little is known of her early life, even her place of birth — likely in Meissen or Lippendorf, Germany— except that she had several brothers and possibly a sister. As in other Catholic families, Katharina was baptized shortly after birth, joining her to …

by Mark Lack
In their book, The Physiography of Southern Ontario, L.J. Chapman and D.F. Putnam recount the amusing story of a 19th century land-surveyor in Ontario. This surveyor was staking out county lines and dividing farm lots in an area that had very poor drainage. Mosquito-infested swamps and bogs covered much of the landscape. The work was exhausting and the surveyor grumbled about the harsh conditions as he slogged his way through the mire. He reckoned that it was only appropriate that such mean and miserable terrain be given a …